Lenten Devotion for Thursday, March 20

By Roxanne Smith

Read John 18:33-40

I have a Jewish friend named Abby. She was born into a Jewish family and came to know Jesus as her Savior as a teenager. The rest of her family, however, doesn’t believe that Jesus is the Messiah. Her father was very disappointed and angry that she had become a follower of Jesus. This tension in her family makes Abby sad.

I asked Abby why so many of the Jewish people don’t believe that Jesus is their Messiah. After all, the Jewish people were God’s chosen people, and the race from which Jesus came.

Abby said her people expected a king who would return power to Israel. He would bring the Jews back to Israel and restore Jerusalem. Their king would establish a government in Israel that would be the center of all world government, both for Jews and gentiles.

And Jesus wasn’t that kind of a king.

Jesus said His kingdom was not of this world. He is a king, king over all of the universe, for all time, but not in the way the Jews expected a king to look. They wanted their king to “fix it” for them here and now.

If I’m really honest, that’s my problem, too. I want the kind of king who will take away all of my problems today and not make me wait. I want a “fixer,” too.

Jesus points us to two realities: the visible reality that we can see, hear, and touch, as well as the invisible reality which we can’t. Just because we can’t see it now doesn’t mean it isn’t real.

Jesus invites us to “see” the invisible reality with eyes of faith. One day we will see Him as king with our actual eyes. It’s going to be like nothing we’ve ever seen before! And His kingdom will never end.

We pray: Jesus, forgive us when we insist on having a king who makes things better now. Give us patience to wait for Your return as King. Give us eyes of faith to see You as You really are. Amen.

Family discussion

Is there a king in your favorite story or movie who reminds you of the best qualities of a king? How can looking at earthly kings help us learn about King Jesus as we will see Him in His future kingdom?

Everyday object

Some things are invisible but still very real. Look outside at the snow piles and talk about what will come out of the ground after they melt. You might get a plastic flower to show young children what spring will bring.